Homegrown Roundup: Quirky Pizza Secrets In Philadelphia

Pizza is not just a flash in the pan trend in Philadelphia; there is a serious selection of delicious pizza available all over the city, like this incredible pie from Noman Pizza. (Photo courtsey: Nomad Pizza)

With the world’s first pizza museum and shop, Pizza Brain, opening in Fishtown later this summer, pizza lovers will finally have a place to explore the crispy, charred inner recesses of America’s favorite food.

With more than 550 artifacts in rotation, Pizza Brain will educate eaters about the cultural impact of the famed Italian import over the years, while serving up gas oven-fired pies topped with environmentally conscious ingredients.

And that’s just the beginning. There’s a world of pizza secrets to explore in the Philly region, from a suburban “speakeasy” to some rightfully picky pizza makers to dough-throwing classes in chefs’ open kitchens.

• Tacconelli’s: Diners can order pizza and only pizza at Tacconelli’s where there’s a three-topping limit for the crunchy, thin-crust pies. It’s also advised that wanna-be patrons call the lauded Port Richmond pizzeria in advance to reserve their dough since it’s made in limited quantities daily.

• Nomad Pizza: Not content to simply serve up what is quickly becoming regarded as one of the region’s top pies, Nomad Pizza entertains the nibbling masses with free movie nights on Sundays. Those in the know also know that Nomad’s Neapolitan-style pies are cut at the table to prevent them from getting soggy (i.e., they’re served unsliced.)

• Santucci’s Pizza: Stop at the ATM and prepare for square as there are no wedge-shaped slices at Santucci’s Pizza. While Santucci’s original locations populate Northeast Philadelphia, the family recently introduced the Bella Vista neighborhood to the addictive square-shaped pies.

• Tony’s Place: Around Valentine’s Day, love birds cozy up in the tiny booths at old-school favorite Tony’s Place in Northeast Philly to feast on the Best of Philly-winning tomato pie, which comes in a heart-shaped form for a limited time each year.

• Penny’s Pizza: Enter through the back door at “speakeasy” Penny’s Pizza in Limerick, which is only open Thursday through Sunday, from 2-8:30 p.m., to enjoy the pies made with a cornmeal-dusted dough.

• La Porta: The menu at Peter McAndrew’s La Porta in Media warns patrons: “Do not try to alter your pizza in any way, hence it may compromise its integrity!” In other words, don’t question the thin crust with its areas of char or the floppy nature of the “malfatti,” half-pie, half-stromboli—or risk looking like a pizza naif.

• Birra: The inventive, decidedly new-school pies at Birra (porchetta with arugula pesto and fontina; duck confit with caramelized onion) can also be served bowl-style (baked upside down and inverted into a personal-sized deep dish). Even better, all pizza is served until 1 a.m.

Fancy-Pants Ingredients

• Pizzeria DiMeo’s: Roxborough newcomer Pizzeria DiMeo’s imports its water from Sicily, ensuring that its wood-fired pies have a down-to-the-last-drop authentic flavor.

• Earth Bread + Brewery: Talk about artisan. Lebanon County Daisy flour is the foundation for the flatbreads at Earth Bread + Brewery, the mozzarella is made daily in house and the whole production is baked in a hand-built oven.

• Garces Trading Company:Garces Trading Company is serious about its pizza. The restaurant’s sourdough crust is made with duck fat, and the pies are available in a deep-dish, Chicago-style with decidedly global toppings like boquerones and merguez sausage.

Healthy Pies

• Jules Thin Crust: A steadily growing local mini-chain, Jules Thin Crust has won fans for its high-quality organic ingredients, interesting vegetarian combinations and the option for whole wheat or gluten-free crust.

• Mama Palma’s: One of the original purveyors of gourmet pizza in Philly, Mama Palma’s keeps the health of its patrons in mind. Any cheese can be swapped out for a soy variation, plus there’s a whole section of the menu devoted to low-fat toppings.

• Pitruco’s:Pitruco’s won Philly Mag’s Best of Philly designation for best pie, making the little red truck an even hotter commodity. Call ahead and beat the lunch line for their wonderful 11-inch personal pizzas, and follow @PitrucoPizza on Twitter for daily specials.

Make (Or Rent) Your Own

• Osteria: Patrons can enjoy Osteria’s award-winning pizzas at the restaurant’s Kitchen Table, which seats between eight and 14 people for a private, family-style meal. The chef also hosts occasional pizza-making classes.

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